Angry neighbours are calling for urgent improvements to be made to a "dangerous" subway under a railway line.

Eighteen out of 24 lights in the underpass linking Hunter Avenue and Newtown Road in Willesborough, Ashford are believed to be broken.

Overgrown bushes are also blocking CCTV cameras surrounding the walkway, sparking further concern among residents.

Jodie Osborne, of Breadlands Road, walks through the subway daily and has been pushing for improved lighting and security for almost a year.

She said: "I use the underpass every morning - I usually walk through it at about 6am and it is pitch black.

"So many lights are out in there and it is really dangerous.

"I started complaining about it last July - I've raised it with Ashford Borough Council (ABC) and MP Damian Green, but it is all up in the air at the moment.

"There are four lights out as you enter the underpass from Hunter Road.

"Eighteen out of the 24 lights are out in the underpass itself and as you come out onto Newtown Road there are five lights out.

"I have just been going around in circles and I don't know what to do."

The 39-year-old, who has resorted to using a torch on her smartphone when walking through, says she is also concerned about the lack of security measures in place as bushes are blocking the view of CCTV cameras.

"I don't think the cameras are capturing anything," she added.

"What's the point in putting the CCTV up if they're not monitoring it?

"Schoolchildren living in South Willesborough and Newtown have to use the underpass daily and when the clocks go back, they are going to be walking through in the dark.

"It is just a high-risk area, you get lots of youths starting fires there and it looks like they have shot the lights with catapults.

"There have also been a had a few muggings in there, and with all the schools passing through it's a health and safety risk.

"I would just like the lights to work and the camera to be made visible. If all the lights were working correctly and the bushes were cut down it would feel safer."

ABC says it has assessed the bridge and examined the costs of repairs after receiving complaints from residents in the borough.

Kent County Council (KCC) has offered to carry out the works if Network Rail is willing to pay for them, but KCC did not provide a comment when asked by Kent Online.

A spokesman for ABC said: “The underpass in question is owned by Network Rail / High Speed 1, therefore it is their responsibility to undertake any repair works.

"We have received some concerns from residents over the condition of underpass and are actively pressuring these companies along with KCC to get this resolved.

"We have written to both parties outlining the necessary works, provided an indication of the costs and requested that the repairs are carried out as a matter of urgency.

"We are now awaiting a response from them.”

"It is just a high-risk area, you get lots of youths starting fires there and it looks like they have shot the lights with catapults"...Jodie Osborne

Network Rail confirmed it is aware of lighting issues in subway.

A spokesman said: "We are currently in discussions with all relevant parties to ensure that the matter is addressed as soon as possible."

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford